From: Lesa Jolly-Borin
& Carolyn McCoy

Friday, May 17, 2002

Highlights for this Week:

Higher Education Appropriation Bill Still Pending

As of late
today, HB2433, which contains the language for the appropriation to be made to
higher education, remains on the agenda for GCCA (General Conference Committee
on Appropriations). As soon as it is
signed out of committee, we will let you know.

SB 1486 Restoration of Language Regarding Master Lease
Program

SB 1486,
which contains restoration of language regarding the master lease program was
signed earlier this session by the Governor.
The language reads as follows:
Section 3206.6 - The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may
establish a master lease program to finance the acquisition of items of
personal property as may be required by or useful to institutions and entities
within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education in order to achieve cost
saving efficiencies. The funds used by
the Regents for the purposes authorized by this section shall be available for
lease transactions having a minimum value of Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000.00) and a maximum value of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00). Such leases shall have a term that is no
less than the useful life of the personal property acquired by institutions
pursuant to the provisions of this section or no more than twenty (20) years.

HB 2738 Passes the House

HB 2738, which contains
amendatory language on the Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center and
expands eligibility for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) to
students attending non-accredited high schools, passed the House Friday morning
98-0 and now heads to the Senate. House
vote on HB 2738: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/house/48leg/okh02597.txt

SB 1060, by Sens. Enoch Kelly Haney,
D-Seminole, and Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, and Reps. Mike Mass, D-Higgins, and
Jack Bonny, D-Burns Flat, appropriates $3.7 million to the Oklahoma Educational
Television Authority, a cut, after the removal of last year's one-time funding,
of 5 percent.

Keating, however, objected to part of the
appropriation by removing $200,000 from the measure that was to be digital
conversion.

"I have vetoed Section 2 of Senate
Bill 1060 because the funds originally appropriated to the Oklahoma Educational
Television Authority for the costs of digital conversion should not be
re-designated for operating costs for digital television broadcasting but
should remain available to help fund completion of the conversion to digital TV
as originally intended," Keating said.

Keating signed 10 other bills into law
Monday, including the following: HB 2425, by Haney, Hobson, Bonny and Mass,
makes an appropriation to the Oklahoma Arts Council.

(GIT) State agencies will be facing increased
budget cuts this month after the Office of State Finance reported the revenues
for April.

State finance officials announced that
double-digit budget cuts will be coming after the April revenues were lower
than expected.

"We knew we were in a bad
situation," Alison Fraser, deputy director of the Office of State Finance,
said, "but we thought there would be improvement in April, which is
typically our biggest collection month of the year. However, that did not
happen, and in fact, we have seen a worsening of an already bad
situation."

April collections in the General Revenue
Fund totaled $499.1 million, which falls 7.7 percent below the estimate and
10.7 percent below the prior year.

"On first blush, it appears we can
easily meet our monthly allocations," Fraser said. "However, we must
first repay $119.9 million borrowed from the Rainy Day Fund in March and April,
which reduces the amount available for allocations."

In addition to that, Fraser pointed out
that $17.6 million of April's collections was distributed to agencies last
month to mitigate that month's reductions. The result will be $361.6 million
for April allocations and no cash available for June allocations.

"With only two months of collections
remaining in the fiscal year, it is highly unlikely that revenues will move
significantly toward the level we anticipated last month," Tom Daxon, OSF
director, said. "This makes it necessary for us to impose additional
cuts."

Daxon said that allocations for this
month and June will be $63.5 million lower, a reduction of 16.8 percent. That
would be an annual reduction of 3.91 percent.

"Our first responsibility is to
protect the fiscal integrity of the state," Daxon said. "We will do
that. Our legislature has designed a system of financial checks to prevent our
situation from unraveling completely and I intend to carry out my responsibilities."

Fraser added that the bottom line is OSF
faces a "difficult balancing act" in trying to determine how much
money can be distributed in order to ensure agencies can make it through the
fiscal year.

"We are walking a tight rope and
working very hard to keep this balance," Fraser said.

According to Fraser, that balance
requires limiting June allocations to May collections. Fraser added that money
will not be available from the Rainy Day Fund in June due to the stipulation
that it must be paid back by the end of the fiscal year.

Oklahoma is facing state revenue problems
that many other states have already experienced. Fraser said she had spoken
with other states' officials about their problems.

"We have been hearing stories like
this from budget officers and tax administrators across the country,"
Fraser said.

Fraser pointed to the decline in the
gross production tax on natural gas as the initial component in the decreased
revenues for Oklahoma. She said that other states were experiencing lost
revenues in individual income tax and sales tax collections, a shortage area
that Oklahoma is

now experiencing.

The gross production tax on natural gas
continued to affect collections in a negative manner, Fraser said, but the recently-completed
income tax season revealed shortages in that area.

"April is a pivotal month for
revenues," Fraser said. "The gross production tax on natural gas
continues to lead our revenue decline. Of greatest concern, however, were
April's individual income tax collections, which marked the deadline for filing
of tax returns."

The Oklahoma Tax Commission reported that
a smaller amount of people owed money when filing their taxes this year and the
money owed was less than in past years. More people were also receiving refunds
and the refunds were larger than in prior years.

Fraser said the individual income tax
collections for April were $10.3 million or 3.4 percent lower than the estimate.
She also pointed to declines in capital gains, stock options and bonuses as
other contributors to the lack of revenues.

The individual income tax collections are
above the prior fiscal year's collections by 0.7 percent or $11.5 million, but
below the estimate by 2.0 percent or $33.4 million.

"These kinds of trends don't turn
around on a dime," Fraser said. "We have seen our revenue situation
worsen from month-to-month and there is no reason to believe things will
instantly get better on July 1, the start of the next fiscal year. Certainly,
there are some differences in next year's estimate and this year's,
particularly when it comes to the gross production tax on natural gas."

Fraser warned that it was possible that
the declines could carry over into the next fiscal year. If so, she said that
agency directors would be asked to consider conservative approaches in
establishing priorities for the coming fiscal year.

As for the state Legislature, Speaker of
the House Larry Adair, D-Stilwell, said that it would be difficult to determine
the effect on next fiscal year's appropriations. He pointed out that some
budget bills had already been signed into law, and that it was important that
education be "held harmless."

"We're just going to have to adjust
where necessary after they go back and look at everything," Adair said.

Among the agencies facing the largest
cuts in May are the State Department of Education ($117 million), the Department
of Corrections ($26.9 million), the State Regents for Higher Education ($50.5
million), the Health Care Authority ($24.8 million) and the Department of Human
Services ($28.7 million).

*Per SCR
51 adopted earlier this session, the Legislature has set May 24 as the last day
of session. However, according to
Oklahoma constitution, the Legislature can meet until the last Friday in May
(May 31, 2002). We will let you know if
there are any changes in this date.

Bill added to Tracking List

SB 1049 - Asbestos abatement

SB 1445 – OSU
Cooperative Extension Service

HB 1029 - Dental hygienists

HB 1660 - Teachers’ Retirement System

HB 2656 – Technology center schools

HB 2719 – Health insurance

HCR 1072 – OSU sensor research

HCR 1075 – Task Force to Review the
Complaint System for Persons with Disabilities

College of Pharmacy representative
on Pharmacy Connection Council, HB 2605

College of Public Health
representative on Pharmacy Connection Council, HB 2605

Football player, Roy Williams, SR 26

Gymnastics team (men’s), SCR 76

Police officers retirement, HB 2212

Political Communication Center, SCR
54

Weather Research Center, HB 2536

Veterinary
technicians, HB 2109

Weapons,
HB 2801

Whistleblower
Act, HB 1985

Williams,
Roy, SR 26

Workers'
Compensation, SB 650

Workforce
development, HB 1503

Workforce
investment, HB 2633

BILL SUMMARIES

Status
Reported as of May 16, 2002

SENATE BILLS

SB 37 (Fisher/Peters) - SCHOOL
READINESS. Creating the
Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Act; creating the Oklahoma
Partnership for School Readiness Board, whose membership includes the
Chancellor or designee. The conference
committee substitute decreases membership on the board from 29 members to
25. The Chancellor is no longer
included on the Board. (10 §
640.2)

SB 396 (Morgan/Paulk) - BOARD APPOINTMENTS/DISTRICTS. Providing for appointment of members of
various State boards, commissions, and authorities, including the Board of
Regents for the A&M Colleges and OETA, in the event congressional districts
are modified; providing for appointments to be filled based on redrawn congressional
districts. (70 O.S. 2001, §§ 23-105,
3409) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB396_int.rtf

SB
650 (Henry/Askins) - Workers’
Compensation. Authorizing the commissioner of CompSource
Oklahoma to require production of records of employers insured with or applying
for insurance with CompSource Oklahoma against liability for compensation;
requiring that premiums for any policy period be paid according to the contract
of insurance; requiring the administrator for the Multiple Injury Trust Fund to
approve funds to be allocated by the State Treasurer to CompSource Oklahoma for
administration expenses, unless rejected by the Governor and Attorney General;
repealing 85 O.S. 2001, Section 2c, relating to authorization of claims. (85 O.S. 2001, §§ 134, 142, 175)

SB 701 (Leftwich/McCarter) - SOCIAL STUDIES. Modifying number of units required in social
studies core curriculum; adding one-half to one unit or set of competencies of
world history, economics or geography to possible social studies units to be
completed for high school graduation; creating the Oklahoma Social Studies
Stimulus Program; authorizing State Board of Education to establish criteria
and award grants. (70 §§ 11-103.6,
1210.705) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB701_int.rtf

SB
878 (Muegge/Turner) – OSU/ETHANOL PLANT FEASIBILITY. Directing the Agriculture Department to
conduct a feasibility study to attract an ethanol processing plant to the
state; creating the Ethanol Plant Feasibility Advisory Committee, one member of
which would be appointed by and would represent Oklahoma State University.

SB
893 (Morgan/Nations) – SALES TAX
EXEMPTION/EVENT TICKETS. Amending Section 25 of HB 2924 by providing a sales tax exemption for sales of admission to places of
amusement, sports, entertainment, exhibition, display or other recreational
events or activities that are located at and operated by a State System
institution. (68 O.S. 2001, §
1356) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB893_int.rtf

SB
934 (Herbert/Glover) – COMMISSIONERS
OF LAND OFFICE. Requiring
the Commissioners of the Land Office to transfer all available funds from the
Public Building Fund to the State Treasurer for allocation to the State Land
Reimbursement Fund each year; authorizing the Commissioners to invest the permanent
school fund and the other educational funds in timber and timberland, and to
buy, sell, harvest and manage timber produced on land owned by the
Commissioners; modifying publication requirements for the sale of oil, gas and
mineral leases on school lands; requiring the Commissioners to pay real estate
appraiser license fees for employees required to obtain such license to perform
required job duties. (62 O.S. 2001 §
194; 64 O.S. 2001, §§ 51, 92, 281) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB934_int.rtf

SB
936 (Shurden/Turner) – GOLF CART
USE IN STATE PARK.
Authorizing a physically disabled person to operate a golf cart within
the boundaries of a state park during daylight hours, with certain
qualifications. The conference committee
substitute also prohibits the golf cart from being operated on roadways
within the park boundaries with posted speed limits greater than 25 miles per
hour; requiring that the operator possess a valid driver license and provide
certified proof of disability. (47 §
1151.2) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB936_int.rtf

SB
948 (Maddux/Plunk) – Administrative
RuleS. Enacting the Small
Business Regulatory Flexibility Act; requiring agencies to submit to the Small
Business Regulatory Review Committee proposed rules if the rules adversely
affect small business; changing from 20 days to 30 days the amount of time
required for a comment period after publication of notice of intended
rulemaking action. (75 O.S. 2001, §§
303) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB948_int.rtf

SB
950 (Leftwich/Newport) – TELEMARKETING. “Telemarketer Restriction Act”; requiring
the Attorney General to establish a no-telemarketing-sales-call registry;
providing an exception from restrictions for the solicitation of funds or other
support for a charitable or religious activity, political candidate, cause, or
organization and any activity of a charitable not-for-profit entity; providing
an exception in cases in which a business relationship has been established;
authorizing the Attorney General to promulgate rules. (15 §§ 775B.1/775B.7)

SB
1024 (Haney/Mass) – Appropriations/UNIVERSITY
HOSPITALS. Appropriating to various health entities including the Health Department
for contractual services of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine for the
Area Health Education Centers Campaign, contractual services for the OU Health
Science Center Pediatric Endocrinology Department, contractual services with
the Perinatal Continuing Education Program within OU’s College of Medicine’s
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, for the Children First Program and
University Hospitals Authority. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1024_int.rtf

SB 1055 (Haney/Mass) –
APPROPRIATIONS/TOURISM. Establishing budgetary limitations for the
Department of Tourism and Recreation, including unspecified funds budgeted for
the Summer Arts Institute and the Jazz Hall of Fame. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1055_int.rtf

SB 1058 (Haney/Mass) –
APPROPRIATIONS/TOURISM. Establishing budgetary limitations for the
Department of Tourism and Recreation, including unspecified funds budgeted for
the Summer Arts Institute and the Jazz Hall of Fame. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1058_int.rtf

SB 1059 (Haney/Mass) –
APPROPRIATIONS/TOURISM. Establishing budgetary limitations for the
Department of Tourism and Recreation, including unspecified funds budgeted for
the Summer Arts Institute and the Jazz Hall of Fame. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1059_int.rtf

SB
1188 (Haney/Mass) – Appropriations/GENERAL. Providing
that the State shall appropriate from the State Treasury at least 90 percent as
much money for each state agency for FY2003 as was appropriated from the
treasury for FY2002; appropriating to various state entities including the
State Regents, Physician Manpower Training Commission, Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), Teacher Preparation Commission,
and the University Hospitals Authority.
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1188_int.rtf

SB 1208
(Haney/Mass) – STATE REGENTS LONG-RANGE PLANS. Authorizing Central
Services to expend certain funding for the purpose of site location, design and
architectural work for projects of the State Regents as approved by the
Long-Range Capital Planning Commission and the Contingency Review Board. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1208_int.rtf

SB
1231 (Morgan/Stites) – TEACHERS’ Retirement. Requiring
that persons receiving retirement benefits from the Teachers’ Retirement System
as of June 30, who continue to receive benefits after July 1, receive an
increase in retirement benefits equal to 3 percent; requiring that such persons
who are otherwise eligible for the benefit increase, who retired from the
system with 30 years of credit service, receive in lieu of the benefit increase
an increase in benefits equal to 4 percent.
(70 §§ 17-116.17, 17-116.18) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1231_int.rtf

SB
1233 (Morgan/Wells) – HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS. Prohibiting
the Employee Benefits Council and the State and Education Employees Group
Insurance Board from requiring HMOs to follow a standardized service area or
offer a Medicare supplement plan; authorizing HMOs to exceed the basic plan in
benefit design as long as they maintain uniform deductibles and co-pays as
authorized by the Council and Board.
(74 § 1366.1) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1233_int.rtf

SB
1243 (Morgan/Corn) – Health
insurance/TEACHERS’ Retirement. Deleting
language regarding the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board
contracting with the Oklahoma Medical Center and George Nigh Rehabilitation
Institute; changing certain reporting date from fiscal to calendar year;
changing period of effect for certain emergency rules; requiring the Board to
annually collect its own set of performance measures to assess the quality of
its HealthChoice plans and other services; deleting authorization for retired
members of the Teacher’s Retirement System whose education entity is not a
participant in the State and Education Group Insurance Act to begin health and
dental insurance coverage; removing HEDIS data requirement for the state
plan. (74 O.S. 2001, §§ 1304, 1305.1,
1306, 1316.3, 1365)

SB
1287 (Ford/Hopper Smith) – Tulsa
Community College TECHNOLOGY CENTER SCHOOL DISTRICT. Modifying the name of the Tulsa County
Technology Center School District to be the Tulsa Technology Center School
District; requiring that funds expended for operations or capital improvements
for the Tulsa Community College Technology Center School District be subject to
approval by the Tulsa Technology Center School District Board; removing
authority of State Board of Career and Technology Education to approve Tulsa
Community College budget. The
conference committee substitute also amends Section 9B of Article X of the
Oklahoma Constitution to authorize ad valorem tax levies for the technology
center school district. (70 O.S. 2001,
§§ 4419, 4420) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1287_int.rtf

SB 1292 (Crutchfield/Roan) – PARKING/PUBLIC DISRUPTIONS. Prohibiting unauthorized parking at any
state building or property in Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties; removing reference
to State Capitol Park, the Cowboy Hall of Fame Park and the State Capitol
complex in Tulsa; authorizing booting of autos with outstanding fines; making
it unlawful to disturb, interfere or disrupt state business, agency operations
or any state employee, agent, official or representative; making it a
misdemeanor to refuse to disperse or leave any property, building or structure
used to conduct state business or operations after proper notice by a peace
officer, sergeant-at-arms or other security personnel; setting punishment at a
maximum one-year county jail term and/or a $1,000 fine. (47 O.S. 2001, § 11-1009)

SB 1299 (Rozell/Webb) – Health
insurance. Allowing a
network provider facility or physician contract to be amended at any time
during the term of the contract only by mutual written consent of duly
authorized representatives of the State and Education Employees Group Insurance
Board and the facility or physician.
(74 § 1306.5)

SB 1328 (Cain/Greenwood) – EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETER FOR DEAF.
“Oklahoma Educational Interpreter for the Deaf Act”; establishing
qualifications for educational interpreters in the public schools; authorizing
persons who meet certain requirements to be employed as an educational
interpreter for up to three years, but must obtain one of the proficiency levels
to continue after the third year. (70
§§ 13-115/13-115.4)

SB 1335 (Wilcoxson/Morgan)
– SCHOOL PERFORMANCE REVIEW.Authorizing the Office of Accountability,
under the director of the Education Oversight Board, to research, develop,
implement and administer a school performance review program. The conference
committee substitute allows funds appropriated by the Legislature to the
State Board of Education for the Office of Accountability for FY2002 and
subsequent years to be expended to conduct operations performance reviews of
school districts having administrative service costs that are above established
expenditure limits; authorizing the Office of Accountability to hire personnel
to assist in development and design of the program and to contract with outside
entities to assist in conducting performance review programs. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1335_int.rtf

SB 1358 (Morgan/Webb) –
INVENTORY. Increasing from $500 to
$1,000 the limit on inventory of State System institutions and the University
Hospitals consisting of machinery, implements, tools, furniture, livestock,
vehicles and other apparatus that may be used repeatedly without material
impairment of its physical condition.
(74 O.S. 2001, § 110.1) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1358_int.rtf

SB 1365 (Dickerson/Askins) –
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT.
Providing that, if an evaluation by a state agency of the performance of
a professional services contract indicates deficiencies with the supplier's
work, the agency must send a copy of the evaluation to the State Purchasing
Director. (74 O.S. 2001, § 85.41) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1365_int.rtf

SB 1378 (Morgan/Ingmire) –
ALTERNATE RETIREMENT PLAN.
"Alternate Retirement Plan for Eligible Employees of Participating
State Institutions of Higher Education Act"; authorizing alternate
retirement plans for eligible employees and electing employees at the
University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University in lieu of the plan
offered by the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma; authorizing the board
of regents of each participating institution to establish an alternate
plan. (70 O.S. 2001, § 17-103) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1378_int.rtf

SB 1381 (Dickerson/Askins) –
AUDITS/STATE PURCHASE CARDS.
Authorizing the Director of the Department of Central Services to
promulgate rules relating to audits of state agency acquisitions and use of a
state purchase card to make acquisitions; limiting cards to not exceed $2,500;
authorizing the Purchasing Director to authorize state agencies to use reverse
auctions to acquire acquisitions. (74
O.S. 2001, § 85.5) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1381_int.rtf

SB
1385 (Monson/Askins) – HEALTH INSURANCE/HIGH RISK POOL/DENTAL
& VISION PLANS. Exempting the State and Education Employees
Group Insurance Board from the Health Insurance High Risk Pool Act; allowing an
employee and covered dependent of the employee, who participates in a medical
plan offered by the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board, who is
separated from eligible employment and has exhausted continued coverage, to
continue coverage if he or she is otherwise eligible for participation in the
High Risk Pool plan;allowing the Oklahoma State Employees
Benefits Council to contract with qualifying dental and vision plans through a
best and final offer negotiation process.
(36 O.S. 2001, § 6532; 74 O.S. 2001, § 1365) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1385_int.rtf

SB 1408 (Easley/Ferguson) – TECHNOLOGY CENTER COURSES. Authorizing enrollment of students on a
part-time basis in remote or on-site Internet-based courses; authorizing school
districts to furnish educational services to children who do not reside in the
U.S.; authorizing remedial educational services through remote Internet-based
instruction; providing formulas for calculation of State Aid; removing
authorization to award credit for applied mathematics, computer science and
applied science courses taught at technology center schools; authorizing
academic credit be counted for Internet-based courses offered at a technology
center school that are taught by a certified teacher and provided for the
teaching and learning of the appropriate skills and knowledge in the Priority
Academic Student Skills (PASS), if approved by the Board. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1408_int.rtf

SB 1420 (Maddox/Kirby) – SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION. Requiring certain sex offenders to register
with higher education campus police or security if such person enrolls as a
full- or part-time student, is a full- or part-time employee of a higher
education institution, or resides or intends to reside or stay on any property
owned or controlled by the institution; requiring the Department of Corrections
to inform sex offenders of requirements; requiring registering information to
include the name and address of any school where the person expects to become
or is enrolled or employed for any length of time. (57 O.S. 2001, §§ 583, 584)

SB 1445 (Leftwich/Nance) – osu
cooperative extension service.The conference committee substitute adds sections authorizing the
Commission on County Government Personnel Education and Training to contract
with the Center for Local Government
Technology and Cooperative Extension Service at OSU to train county and
political subdivision personnel. (19
O.S. 2001, §§ 130.2, 130.4)

SB 1456 (Williams/Roberts) –
TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT. Providing for members of the Oklahoma Public
Employees Retirement System who become employees of the Teachers Preparation
Commission to transfer accumulated service credit to the Teachers’ Retirement
System. (70 O.S. 2001, § 17-116.2) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1456_int.rtf

SB 1461 (Wilkerson/Corn) – UNPAID LEAVE/FAMILIES OF CRIME VICTIMS. Requiring the employer of a government
employee who is the immediate family member of a victim of violent crime to
provide unpaid leave to the employee to attend judicial or other proceedings;
designating violation as a misdemeanor.
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1461_int.rtf

SB 1486 (Haney/Mass) – APPROPRIATIONS/MASTER LEASE. Appropriating to the State Board of
Education; designating $405,870 to be expended on a competitive application
basis to a State System institution for implementing telecommunications
curriculum; setting budgetary limitations
for the Teacher Preparation Commission; making appropriations to the State Regents;
stating legislative intent that $500,000 be allocated for the Fred Jones Jr.
Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma; stating legislative intent that
$100,000 be allocated for a Native American Language Curator for the Sam Noble
Museum of Natural History at the University of Oklahoma; creating a new section
of law permitting the State Regents to establish a master lease program;
appropriating to the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and
Technology (OCAST); repealing sections relating to higher education leasing,
higher education funding and OCAST.
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1486_int.rtf

SB 1487 (Haney/Mass) – APPROPRIATIONS. Making
appropriations to various health entities, including the University Hospitals
Authority; authorizing the referral of correctional inmate patients to the
University Hospitals. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1487_int.rtf

SB 1512 (Cain/Lindley) – OLMSTEAD DECISION. Creating
the Strategic Planning Committee on the Olmstead Decision to develop a comprehensive,
strategic plan for Oklahomans with disabilities; requiring all state agencies
to cooperate with the Committee by providing any requested information,
records, or reports. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SB1512_int.rtf

SB
1553 (Robinson/Vaughn) - Smoking
in Public Places. Designating state buildings as non-smoking; allowing each building
to have one separately vented smoking room; excepting from the term “buildings”
up to 25 percent of rooms in hotels or motels associated with state facilities
in which rooms are located where children are not allowed, if the rooms are
properly vented; atuthorizing counties and municipalities to designate
facilities as nonsmoking, as nonsmoking with one designated smoking room or to
retain their current smoking policy; prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of the
entrance or exit of affected buildings.

SB
1595 (Williams/Nations) - TEACHER
CERTIFICATION. Authorizing
additional professional leave days for teachers to attend or participate in
professional meetings, staff development or National Board certification
portfolio development; requiring successful completion of the competency examination
for licensure as a teacher; providing an exception for Alternative Placement
Program candidates.

SB
1628 (Williams/Vaughn) – BONE MARROW AND ORGAN DONATION LEAVE. Changing the “Organ Donor Education and
Awareness Program” to the “Cheryl Selman Organ Donor Education and Awareness
Act”; requiring that state employees be granted a leave of absence for specified
time for bone marrow and organ donation; requiring that such employees receive
the base state pay without interruption during the leave of absence;
prohibiting penalizing an employee for requesting or obtaining a leave of
absence for bone marrow and organ donation.
(63 O.S. 2001, §§ 2220.1, 2220.3, 2220.6; 63 § 2220.11)

SB
1631 (Crutchfield/Staggs) – SCHOOL TESTING. Limiting remediation for students who do not
perform satisfactorily on the mathematics portion of either the norm- or
criterion-referenced tests to students in grades three through eight; limiting
summer academies for students to reading and math. (70 O.S. 2001, §§ 1210.5E, 1210.508E)

SB
1632 (Pruitt/Winchester) – TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
(TANF). Requiring the Department of
Human Services to establish a service delivery system under the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program that provides for redemption of
vouchers for TANF services at participating private faith-based providers and
federally recognized Indian tribes; providing that vouchers be made payable for
specified TANF services, which include work experience, job training, literacy
and adult basic education and vocational-educational programs. (56 § 230.77)

SB 1641
(Cain/Blackburn) – HEALTH
INSURANCE/AUDIOLOGICAL SERVICES. Requiring group health insurance plans to provide coverage for
audiological services and hearing aids for children up to age 18; requiring
that such coverage apply only to hearing aids that are prescribed, filled and
dispensed by a licensed audiologist and authorizing a limitation on the hearing
aid benefit payable for each hearing-impaired ear to every 48 months, but
allowing such coverage to provide for up to four additional ear molds per year
for children up to age two.

SB
1658 (Pruitt/Winchester) – TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
(TANF). Requiring the Department of
Human Services to provide English as a second language services to recipients
pursuant to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through
contracts; authorizing the Department to contract with faith-based organizations
to provide necessary services. (56 O.S.
2001, § 230.62)

SCR
54 (Hobson/Nations) – UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA/POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
CENTER. Commending the University
of Oklahoma’s Political Communication Center and those involved in producing
“Sights and Sounds of Oklahoma Politics,” which electronically portrays the
history of politics from Oklahoma territorial days to the present.

SCR
74 (Hobson/Nations) – OU MEN’S BASKETBALL. Praising the 2001-02 University of Oklahoma Sooners men’s
basketball team for winning the Big 12 Tournament title and appearing in the
Final Four playoff.

HB 1503 (Adair/Rozell) -
RURAL DEVELOPMENT/Northeastern State
University. Creating the
“Oklahoma Center for Rural Development Act”; providing that the Center will
ensure compliance with the State Regents mandate that institutions contribute
to workforce development, business-needs research, and technology transfer in
their region; creating an Oklahoma Center for Rural Development at Northeastern
State University; providing for a nine-member Board of Advisors, appointed by
the president of the university; providing for powers and duties of Center;
directing the Center to establish certain institutes; providing for
funding. (70 §§ 4801/4810)

HB 1719 (Staggs/Capps) - RETIREMENT. Requiring allocation to the Teachers’
Retirement System from the general revenue fund at least 3.5 percent of the
certified appropriations authorized by the State Board of Equalization at the
February 2001 meeting and each following year’s February meeting; modifying
apportionment of sales and use and income tax revenues; repealing a section
relating to the Teachers’ Retirement System dedicated revenue revolving
fund. The conference committee
substitute rewrites the bill, increasing the Oklahoma State Pension
Commission from five to seven members; expanding its responsibilities to
include review of legislation and making recommendations to the legislative
leadership and Governor; requiring the boards of trustees of state retirement
systems to make annual reports to the Commission; requiring certain actuarial assumptions. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB1719_int.rtf

HB 1985 (Erwin/Herbert) – WHISTLEBLOWER ACT. "Whistleblower Act"; prohibiting
officers or employees of state agencies from taking disciplinary action against
an employee for disclosing public information to correct what the employee reasonably
believes evidences a violation of law or rules or for discussing agency
operations with persons in a position to investigate or initiate corrective
action; prohibiting supervisors from considering incidents that occurred longer
than five years prior to an offense for purposes of progressive discipline
only, except that penalties imposed pursuant to the progressive discipline system
must be limited to offenses of a similar or identical nature to the prior
offense; making the prohibition inapplicable to incidents involving criminal
activity, sexual misconduct and/or harassment, racially discriminatory behavior
and/or harassment, threats of violence against others, or drug and/or alcohol
use or abuse that affects employee performance. (74 O.S. 2001, § 840-2.5)

HB 2030 (Benge/Herbert) – Asbestos abatement. Eliminating references to the Asbestos
Abatement Division of the Department of Central Services; requiring the
department to provide such services if need is certified by the State Department
of Labor; allowing the agency to enter into interlocal agreements with counties
and municipalities for asbestos abatement services. (74 O.S. 2001, § 61.6)

HB 2053 (Nance/Shurden) – RISK MANAGMENT. Requiring the Department of Central Services
to establish a risk management audit program to identify workplace security
threats that expose state employees to dangers that could be eliminated or
reduced by infrastructure, technology, or other improvements; requiring each
state agency to designate an employee or employees to receive pertinent
training, to conduct an audit, and to report the findings to the governing
entity of the agency. (74 O.S. 2001, §
85.58A) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2053_int.rtf

HB 2058 (Adair/Morgan) – LIFE INSURANCE. Allowing dependents of members of the State
and Education Employees Group Insurance Program to continue or purchase life
insurance; authorizing retirees to continue in force any additional life insurance
purchased prior to retirement, deleting requirement that additional insurance
be above three-fourths of basic life insurance amount; deleting language terminating
benefits when the surviving spouse remarries or become eligible for another
group health insurance plan. (74 O.S.
2001, § 1316.1/1316.3)

HB 2068 (Covey/Muegge) – OSU CENTER
FOR ISSUE MANAGEMENT & ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Authorizing the A&M Board to establish an
Institute for Issue Management and Alternative Dispute Resolution, to be part
of the Seretean Wellness Center at Oklahoma State University; requiring that
the operation and activities of the Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program be
incorporated into the institute. (2
O.S. 2001, § 2-30; 70 § 3430)

HB 2078 (Adkins/Cain) – MEDICAL
LICENSURE. Modifying requirements
for licensure of allopathic physicians to allow for approved postgraduate
medical training in programs in England, Scotland and Ireland; providing that,
in the event clerkships were used by a foreign medical school, the clerkships
must have been performed in hospitals and schools in the United States, its
territories or possessions that have Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education (ACGME) accredited programs; requiring that foreign applicants
provide a certified copy of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical
Graduates Certificate to the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision;
expanding disciplinary authority of the state board; making a licensee whose license
surrender in lieu of prosecution is accepted by the Board ineligible to reapply
for reinstatement for at least one year from the date of the accepted surrender.
(59 O.S. 2001, §§ 493.1, 493.2, 508, 509.1, 512)

HB 2099 (Gilbert/Cain) – EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION. Authorizing the use of agency operating funds
to pay the cost of recognition award receptions; placing a limitation on the
cost of an award at $150 per recognized employee each fiscal year; allowing
agencies to establish, in addition to recognition awards, an employee
performance and conduct cash recognition program not to exceed $250 per recognized
employee each fiscal year for cash awards to recognize outstanding performance
in the workplace. (74 O.S. 2001, §
4121) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2099_int.rtf

HB 2124 (Stites/Morgan) – STATE RETIREMENT
sYSTEMS. Requiring that
unspecified amounts be paid for health insurance premiums for retirees from
state retirement systems, including the Teachers’ Retirement System. The conference committee substitute adds
new law establishing 5-percent benefit increases for individuals receiving
benefits from state retirement systems, but does not include the Teachers’
Retirement System. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2124_int.rtf

HB 2162 (Paulk/Leftwich) – NURSING
WORKFORCE TASK FORCE. Creating a 22-member Nursing Workforce Task
Force to identify various strategies, including those for recruitment and
retention of nurses and school nurses; providing for membership, which would
include one member each from the University of Oklahoma School of Nursing and
the Oklahoma State University School of Nursing; requiring the cooperation of
all state departments, officers, agencies and employees. (59 § 575)
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2162_int.rtf

HB
2212 (Corn/Crutchfield) – LAW
ENFORCEMENT RETIREMENT/NATIONAL GUARD DUTY. Modifying calculation of retirement benefits
for members of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System (OLERS), which
include OU and OSU police officers; providing that members of OLERS responding
to mobilization for state or national emergencies may not have the employer
contribution reduced during their period of service in the Oklahoma National
Guard or Reserve. (47 O.S. 2001, §
2-305)

HB
2234 (Matlock/Crutchfield) – TECHNOLOGY
CENTER SCHOOL BOARDS.
Authorizing boards of education of technology center school districts to
approve plans and specifications for technology center school buildings, additions
and major modifications without approval of the state board when the cost of
the building project is to be paid with local levies. Section 1 amended by HB 2656. (70 O.S. 2001, § 14-108)

HB 2238 (Ross/Horner)
- TULSA RACE RIOT MEMORIAL/RECONCILIATION SCHOLARSHIP. Providing certain requirements for the Tulsa
Race Riot Memorial of Reconciliation design, administration and funding;
amending the Greenwood Area Development Authority Act; amending the Tulsa
Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Act; requiring the State Regents, subject
to availability of funds, to award annually a maximum of 300
full-time-equivalent scholarships for the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and
Scholarship Program to qualifying residents of the City of Tulsa; providing for
the trust fund to be managed by the State Regents who would constitute the
board of trustees; requiring the Tax Commission to include on income tax forms
an opportunity to donate to the scholarship fund. (74 §§ 8201.1, 8221, 8224, 8224.1; 70 §§ 2621/2623, 2625) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2238_int.rtf

HB 2245 (Benson/Helton) – QUALITY
JOBS. “Oklahoma Quality Jobs
Incentive Leverage Act”; requiring an establishment authorized to receive
incentive payments to file an irrevocable election with the state Tax
Commission to transfer tax credits to a corporation that issues indebtedness
for the purpose of providing funds for the benefit of and on behalf of Oklahoma
education institutions and certain other tax-exempt entities. (68 § 3657)

HB 2264 (Dunegan/Crutchfield)
– STATE EMPLOYEES/NATIONAL GUARD DUTY. Requiring that state officers and employees called to active or
inactive service for Operation Enduring Freedom, for the first twenty days be
paid their full regular pay from the employing agency and then be entitled to
the difference between their full regular pay and their National Guard or
Reserve Components pay retroactive to the date the person reported to such
active service on or after Sept. 11, 2001; amending Section 32 of HB 2924 by
placing in the unclassified state service incumbent employees hired to perform
duties of persons who are doing military service. (44 O.S. 2001, § 209; 72 O.S. 2001, §§ 47, 48; 74 O.S. 2001, §
840-5.5) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2264_int.rtf

HB 2311
(Stites/Morgan) – CHILDREN OF
DISABLED LAW-ENFORCEMENT MEMBER.
Relating to the Law Enforcement Retirement System; providing that if a
disabled member has children, $400 per month shall be paid for the support of
each child until the child reaches 18 years of age or 22 years of age if
attending a public or private school or higher education institution; providing
that a waiver of general enrollment fees and tuition shall also apply to the
children of retired law enforcement members who have given their lives in the
line of duty or whose disability occurred in the line of duty. (47 O.S. 2001, § 2-305; 70 O.S. 2001, §
3218.7) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2311_int.rtfhttp://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2311_int.rtf

HB 2312
(Roberts/Williams) – GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS/OUT-OF-STATE TRANSFER STUDENTS. Requiring the State Board of Education to
adopt rules to ensure that high school students who transfer from out of state
not be denied, due to differing graduation requirements, the opportunity to be
awarded a standard diploma; directing that the rules allow district boards of
education to make exceptions on a case-by-case basis to high school graduation
requirements for such students who enroll in a public school in the state
following completion of the student’s sophomore year; requiring that any student
who successfully completes an advanced science or mathematics course be granted
academic credit toward meeting the core curriculum requirements for high school
graduation. (70 § 11-103.6f)

HB 2341
(Wilt/Ford) – SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
Changing the name of "advisory planning committees" of local
boards of education to "advisory councils"; increasing the duration
of school improvement plans from four years to six years; requiring that
administrators, teachers, other school staff and parents in each school
district annually monitor and update the school improvement plan as necessary;
specifying additional content and information, including educational
indicators, to be contained in school improvement plans. (70 O.S. 2001, § 5-117.4) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2341_int.rtf

HB 2344 (Staggs/Crutchfield)
– POST-RETIREMENT EMPLOYMENT.
Establishing post-retirement annual earnings limitations for individual
retirees or incorporated entities employed by school districts; providing that
for retired members 62 years of age or older, the limit on allowed earnings
from public schools shall be the lesser of $30,000 or one-half of the member’s
final average salary used in computing retirement benefits. (70 O.S. 2001, § 17-116.10)

HB 2352
(Liotta/Williams) – EMPLOYEE PRIVACY.
Prohibiting an employer from releasing social security numbers of a
current or former employee without written permission from the employee or by
court order, except in compliance with state and federal regulation, in
response to an official request from a law enforcement agency or in
administration of employment benefits and pay.
(40 § 61.1) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2352_int.rtf

HB 2374 (Roan/Shurden) -
BLUE RIVER CONSERVATION PASSPORT.
Authorizing the Wildlife Conservation Commission to establish a “Blue
River Conservation Passport”, which is a special use permit; exempting from the
passport requirements students and instructors participating in educational
tours or activities who have received approval in advance. (29 § 4-138)

HB 2383 (Roan/Shurden) – Teachers’ Retirement. Relating to public retirement systems, including
the Teachers’ Retirement System; modifying provisions related to death
benefits; providing that such benefits, for purposes of federal income
taxation, shall be deemed life insurance proceeds and not as a death benefit if
the IRS approves the provision pursuant to a private-letter-ruling request to
be submitted by the boards of trustees of state retirement systems. (70 O.S. 2001, § 17-105) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2383_int.rtf

HB 2412 (Coleman/Herbert) – STATE
AUDITS. Requiring state agencies to
furnish copies of all audits to the Legislature; enacting the “Legislative
Review of State Audits Act”; requiring agencies to deliver copies of audit
reports to legislative leaders, who shall submit a copy each to the legislative
appropriations committees and to the appropriate standing committees of the
respective body having oversight of the agency submitting the audit report;
requiring written agency responses. The
conference committee substitute amends the definition of “audit” to
incorporate the definition established by government auditing standards and
exempts from the act inmate sentence audits by the Department of
Corrections. (74 §§ 452.10,
452.11/452.14) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2412_int.rtf

HB 2429 (Mass/Haney) –
APPROPRIATIONS/STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Appropriating to the State Department of Education for various
programs, including the Virtual Internet School in Oklahoma Network (VISION),
scholarships for the Great Expectations Summer Institutes for Teachers,
implementation of a telecommunications curriculum, Community Education Grants,
Education Leadership Oklahoma, participation in the National Assessment of
Educational Progress, and the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2429_int.rtf

HB 2445 (Mass/Haney) –
APPROPRIATIONS/Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). Appropriating $12,597,604 to the Oklahoma
Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2445_int.rtf

HB 2446 (Mass/Haney) –
APPROPRIATIONS/Oklahoma Center for the
Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). Establishing budgetary limitations for the
Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2446_int.rtf

HB 2488 (Mass/Haney) –
APPROPRIATIONS/HEALTH. Appropriating to the State Department of
Health, requiring budgeting for certain programs including contractual services
of the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine for the Area Health Education
Centers Campaign, contractual services for the OU Health Science Center
Pediatric Endocrinology Department, contractual services with the Perinatal Continuing
Education Program within OU’s College of Medicine’s Obstetrics and Gynecology
Department, and the Children First Program.
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2488_int.rtf

HB 2524 (Mass/Haney) –
APPROPRIATIONS/TOURISM. Establishing budgetary limitations for the
Department of Tourism and Recreation, including unspecified funds budgeted for
the Summer Arts Institute and the Jazz Hall of Fame. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2524_int.rtf

HB 2532 (Mass/Haney) –
APPROPRIATIONS/COMMERCE DEPT. Establishing budgetary limitations for the
Department of Commerce, including unspecified amounts for the Southeastern
Oklahoma State University Statewide Small Business Development Centers Program
and the Bid Assistance Program OSU/CATT.
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2532_int.rtf

HB 2536 (Nations/Haney) –
MOTOR FUEL ASSESSMENT/DISTRIBUTION TO OU/OSU. Modifying distribution of the 1-cent-per-gallon assessment on
motor and diesel fuel and blending materials to require that 50 percent of all
revenues collected, in excess of the $1 million deposited into the Corporation
Commission Revolving Fund, be deposited in a Higher Education Facilities
Revolving Fund and 50 percent to the Petroleum Storage Tank Release
Environmental Cleanup Indemnity Fund; changing the distribution to require
that, beginning July 1, 2004, and until the total amount deposited in the
higher education fund reaches $38 million, 25 percent be deposited to the
higher education fund and 75 percent in the environmental cleanup fund;
requiring that monies in the higher education fund be placed in two accounts,
with one to be for transfer and allocation to the University of Oklahoma for
funding construction of a weather center on the OU campus and one for transfer
and allocation to Oklahoma State University for funding the purchase of
equipment and renovation of facilities on the OSU campus for the advanced
sensor technology research center for the detection of chemical and biological
threats to homeland security.

HB 2605 (Kirby/Henry) – PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE. Requiring the Department of Human Services
to establish a program through which health care providers and members of the
public can obtain information about manufacturer-sponsored prescription drug
assistance programs and shall provide such information to pharmacies,
physicians and other appropriate health care providers, and to the general
public; creating the Oklahoma Pharmacy Connection Council, which would include
representatives of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy and the
University of Oklahoma College of Public Health. Instructions: To amend the bill to strike specific named
organizations on Page 6 and insert generic names of statewide groups that describe
the missions of various types of organizations.

HB 2608 (Benson/Helton) – HEALTH INSURANCE/VISION. Requiring the State Employee Benefits
Council and the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board to
offer a vision plan to qualified employees and their dependents as a pretax
benefit. (74 § 1374)

HB 2625 (Eddins/Fisher) –
MATH TEACHERS/PROFESSIONAL LICENSING.
Authorizing sixth-grade math teachers to obtain middle-level endorsement
by successfully completing a professional development institute in middle-level
mathematics; requiring the State Board of Education and the Teacher Preparation
Commission to conduct a joint study comparing licensing requirements for school
psychologists and speech pathologists to the National Board certification
requirements; requiring a report of the findings. (70 O.S. 2001, § 6-189.1)
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2625_int.rtf

HB 2633
(Fields/Stipe) - Oklahoma Workforce
Investment. Oklahoma Workforce Investment Act; requiring the
Governor to establish a State Workforce Investment Board to assist in the
development of state plan; authorizing state board to establish subgroups;
requiring annual report; requiring Governor to establish local workforce
investment areas; providing for distribution of grants; providing for
establishment of local workforce investment boards; requiring submission of
local plans; requiring reservation of $704,000 in certain federal funding for
use by the Department of Career and Technology Education to administer a
statewide offender employment training program; authorizing the State Workforce
Investment Board to hold meetings by teleconference. The conference committee
substitute adds a section extending a 50-percent reduction in unemployment
insurance taxes through Dec. 31, 2003; providing for suspension of reduction
for any year in which a conditional factor applies. (74 §§ 9101/9109; 25 O.S.
2001, § 307.1) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2633_int.rtf

HB 2714
(Stanley/Cain) – INJURY PREVENTION. Establishing
May of each year as “Injury Prevention Month”; recommending that the Governor
annually encourage the dissemination of injury prevention information and that
all state agencies, businesses, and interested organizations should take the opportunity
to provide their employees and members with injury prevention information
during Injury Prevention Month.

HB
2729 (Pettigrew/Nichols) – JURY DUTY LEAVE. Making it a misdemeanor to require an employee to use sick or
vacation leave while on jury duty; providing that section shall not require an
employer to pay wages for time on jury duty unless the employee uses paid leave
for that purpose. (38 O.S. 2001, §§ 34,
35)

HB 2738
(Deutschendorf/Helton) – TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS ELIGIBILITY/OHLAP/QUARTZ
MOUNTAIN CENTER. Authorizing students
who have graduated from private schools not accredited by the State Board of
Education to participate in the Oklahoma Tuition Scholarship Program and
qualify for scholarships by meeting eligibility criteria. The conference committee substitute
rewrites the bill. It no longer amends
70 O.S. 2001, § 2612 but does enact new law at Title 70, § 4452A and amends 70
O.S. 2001, §§ 2603 and 4451 and 51 O.S. 2001, § 24A.3; allowing students who
have graduated within the previous three years from an unaccredited high school
with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 with an ACT composite of 22 or higher to
participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; providing that the
Board of Trustees for Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center and Nature
Park shall have supervision, management and control of the center and may
commission park rangers; prohibiting certain activities in or near the center;
apportioning revenues from fines between a fund designated by the State Regents
for Higher Education and the county in which the violation is made. (70 O.S. 2001, § 2612) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2738_int.rtf

HB 2764
(Paulk/Wilkerson) – TERRORISM. Amending numerous sections to enact
provisions regarding antiterrorism; Section 14 allows a public body to meet in
executive sessions to discuss investigations of acts of terrorism,
vulnerability assessments of state agencies and response plans relating to acts
of terrorism or the Catastrophic Emergency Health Powers Act; Section 21
creates the Division of Dangerous Substances Response within the Department of
Public Safety; authorizes the Department to coordinate its training programs
with emergency response training programs offered by local, state and federal
agencies, community colleges and institutes of higher education and private
industry; Section 26 exempts investigations of acts of terrorism, vulnerability
assessments of state agencies and response plans relating to acts of terrorism
or the Catastrophic Emergency Health Powers Act from the Open Records Act. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2764_int.rtf

HB 2765
(Paulk/Monson) – CATASTROPHIC EMERGENCY
HEALTH. Relating to the
Catastrophic Emergency Health Powers Act; requiring the Governor to appoint a
Public Health Emergency Planning Commission; requiring commission to develop a
plan for responding to a public health emergency; requiring the reporting of
cases of persons harboring any illness that may be potential cause of a public
health emergency; outlining duties and powers of public health authorities;
outlining procedure for declaration of a public health emergency by the
Governor; providing for termination of declaration within 30 days unless
renewed by Governor; providing for compensation of owners of property taken or
used during an emergency; providing for destruction of property under certain
conditions; authorizing quarantines in certain circumstances; outlining court
procedure for release. (63 §§
6101/6806)

HB
2796 (Braddock/Morgan) – INTERNET
ACCESS SERVICE. Relating to the Oklahoma Telecommunications
Act of 1997; prohibiting the Oklahoma Corporation Commission from imposing any
regulation on a high-speed Internet access service or broadband service
provider, regardless of technology or medium used to provide such service;
requiring that an incumbent local exchange telecommunications service provider
(ILEC) must provide unbundled access to network elements to the extent required
by FCC regulations. (17, §
139.110)

HB
2901 (Roach/Smith) – COMMUNITY HOSPITALS AUTHORITY/OSU COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC
MEDICINE/OU COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (TULSA).
Creating the “Community Hospitals Authority Act” to provide
administration, ensure funding and to contract for services with providers of
indigent care for participating Tulsa-area hospitals; requiring the
participating hospitals to maintain a close affiliation with the Oklahoma State
University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Oklahoma
College of Medicine (Tulsa); requiring participating hospitals to be available
as teaching and training hospitals for the two Tulsa-area medical colleges and
other health and educational facilities, and to provide indigent patient care;
creating a five-member Community Hospitals Authority, the membership of which
would include the presidents or designees of Oklahoma State University and the
University of Oklahoma. The
conference committee substitute adds sections increasing by $1.50 all
driver license fees and other fees to be deposited in the trauma care
assistance revolving fund.

HB
2907 (Blackburn/Monson) – BANKING/INVESTMENT SECURITIES. Modifying provisions relating to banks
and trust companies, shareholders, certificates of authority, bank commissioner
hearings, deposit of securities and type of securities to be deposited with
commissioner; permitting a bank to purchase investment securities (including
certain obligation bonds and revenue bonds) issued by or on behalf of any state
or political subdivision of a state. (6
O.S. 2001, § 806)

HB 2921 (Morgan/Pruitt)
– ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY.Establishing an address confidentiality
program through the Office of the Secretary of State for victims of domestic
abuse, sexual assault or stalking; stating that a program participant may
request that state and local agencies use the address designated by the
Secretary of State as the address of the participant. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HB2921_int.rtf

HJR 1051 (Perry/Coffee) – LIMITING LIABILITY FOR CONTRACTORS. Proposed
constitutional amendment requiring the Legislature to enact laws permitting
state entities to limit the contractual liability of persons contracting to
provide goods or services to the state.
The conference committee substitute is a proposed constitutional
amendment that would authorize rather than require the Legislature to enact
such laws. It provides that in no event
shall liability be limited to less than the amount of the contract. (Art. V, § 53) http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HJR1051_int.rtf

HCR 1044 (Doug Miller) – STATE EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT. Creating a State Government Employee Excellence in Recruitment and
Retention Task Force, membership of which includes two persons associated with
higher education institutions. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HCR1044_int.rtf

2/5/02 Referred
to House Govt Ops & Agency Oversight Committee

HCR 1045 (Ingmire/Morgan) – OSU/REVENUE BONDS. Authorizing
the A&M Board of Regents, on behalf of Oklahoma State University, to issue
$8 million in revenue bonds for completing the construction of the Water Treatment
Plant Upgrade and Distribution System Improvements. http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02HB/HCR1045_int.rtf

HCR 1049 (Wells/Morgan) – OSU/REVENUE BONDS. Authorizing
the A&M Board of Regents, on behalf of Oklahoma State University, to issue
$6 million in revenue bonds for construction of a new addition and minor
renovation of the Agricultural Center Office Building.

HCR 1051 (Corn/Taylor) – SEN. LARRY DICKERSON. Designating a bridge the Senator Larry Dickerson Bridge; honoring the
late Sen. Dickerson for his government service, including his championing the
causes of greater education opportunities.

HCR 1055 (Ingmire/Morgan) – OSU/REVENUE BONDS. Authorizing
the A&M Board of Regents, on behalf of Oklahoma State University, to issue
$80 million in revenue bonds for renovating Lewis Field and refurbishing other
existing athletic facilities in Stillwater.

HCR 1064 (Covey/Kerr) – SWOSU/REVENUE BONDS. Authorizing
the A&M Board of Regents, on behalf of Southwestern Oklahoma State
University, to issue $8 million in revenue bonds to construct a new addition
and to make certain renovations to the Memorial Student Center and other
facilities on the campus.

HCR 1075 (Gilbert/Williams) – COMPLAINT SYSTEM FOR PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES. Re-creating the Task Force to Review the
Complaint System for Persons with Disabilities, one member of which is the
Chancellor.

SJR
1X (Dunlap) – TAX
REFORM/TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT.
Legislative referendum, the "Oklahoma Tax Reform Act of 2002";
repealing individual income tax, estate tax to level of federal allowance
"pickup" status, franchise tax and state sales tax on groceries;
levying 5.9 percent tax on numerous services, including out-of-state services
used or consumed in this state; allocating tax revenues as follows: 87.2
percent to general revenue fund, 8.5 percent to the education reform revolving
fund, 3.35 percent to the Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma, capped at
$136 million, with excess deposited to general fund, 0.95 percent to the ad
valorem reimbursement fund; outlining exemptions; increasing household income
ceiling for sales tax relief to $20,000 for an individual and spouse, $50,000
for households with children, individuals with a physical disability and those
65 years of age or older; increasing amount of claim for an individual spouse
to $400, for other qualifying families $600 for an individual plus $40 for each
allowable personal exemption; repealing sections relating to income tax withholding.
http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/SJR1x_int.rtf